I am a native of Northern Virginia, and a current resident of Loudoun County; as well as a real estate consultant.
Whether you currently live in Loudoun (affectionately referred to in my family as LoCo), or if you're considering moving to the area, I hope you'll enjoy the information you get here! For information on our local real estate market go to http://therealestatewhisperer.blogspot.com/

Monday, May 23, 2011

Marketers no longer must purchase mailing lists to send you junk mail, they can use "saturation mail" through the post office. This makes it easier and cheaper... and perhaps the result is you'll be getting more of it. In fact, that is the goal of the US Post Office. They need the revenue.

It may be what the post office wants, but it is what you want? Do you like junk mail? What about SPAM? There are things you can do to control both. At these web sites you can opt in or out of receiving several types of marketing materials. Check them out.

https://www.dmachoice.org/ ~ A site where you can register to choose what catalogs you want to receive or those you want to block. If you dig deeper you can get your name off lists for charities and product offers.

https://www.catalogchoice.org/ This non-profit group got its start in the ecology/green movement and over 1.3 million households now manage what comes into their mailboxes. You can even cancel your phonebook!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

If you're a disabled vet in Loudoun County, you've been waiting for this. The forms are available and you can now apply for the exemption for your real estate taxes.

Real estate taxes in Loudoun are pretty high, mostly related to growth in recent decades.... somebody's got to pay for those schools, roads and the other infrastructure here. I do enjoy the benefits of living and Loudoun, and honestly, don't really mind paying for them.

That's probably what our Vets here thought, too... until they became disabled. With less income, it becomes much more of a burden to pay for all of that infrastructure. And now they can get a pass!

I would just like to take this opportunity, from the bottom of my heart, to thank ALL our Vets for their many sacrifices... sacrifices I am not brave enough to make personally. What would I do without you? You are all HEROS to me.

Here's the email from Loudoun with details:

Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue, Robert S. Wertz, Jr. reports that his office has forms available for veterans to claim the new real estate tax exemption authorized by Virginia voters last November. This legislation provides for an exemption from Loudoun County real estate taxes on the principal dwelling and up to three acres for veterans with a 100 percent service-connected, total and permanent disability. Persons desiring the exemption are required to file the necessary form and provide qualifying documentation. This exemption is also extended to the veteran’s surviving spouse, so long as the death of the veteran occurred on or after January 1, 2011, the real property is maintained as the survivor’s principal residence, and he or she does not remarry.

The new form may be obtained online at www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief-forms, by calling the Commissioner’s Office at 703-737-8557, or in the Commissioner’s offices in the County Government Center in Leesburg or the Loudoun Tech Center in Sterling.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Here in Loudoun we are big animal lovers. In fact, on the Leesburg, Va fan page, we are often posting about lost or found dogs and cats, and one of my greatest joys in administering that page is the number of times we're involved in reuniting lost pets with their scared and lonely owners. So I wanted to do a post on what to do when your pet is lost. Check it out:

Look for your pet. Cats that are normally indoor cats don't go to far and are usually hiding close by. Animals can also be injured, and may not be able to come to you.

Call the local Animal Shelter and register your lost pet.

Setting traps for cats is encouraged - they hide well and will not come to you if they are scared.

Find that great picture of your pet (maybe a couple) and post them on your facebook page, community pages (like the Leesburg page) and any fan pages of local animal companies or organizations (like rescue organizations, the local shelter, vets, and groomers). Ask that they all "share" the announcement.

Hand out your flyers to neighbors and visit the local pet stores, vets, groomers and shelter. If the pet was lost in unfamiliar territory (while on vacation, after a recent move, etc). Be sure to do this kind of outreach in areas where your pet may go, as well as where they were lost. **

Contact local papers - often they will put free ads for you to announce your lost pet.

* I really stress visiting the local animal shelters personally. I lost a dog many years ago and was told repeatedly that there was no dog matching my dog's description there. When we visited in person guess what we found? Our dog. He'd been there 2 weeks.

* I also stress visiting more than one animal shelter. My sister was renting a home in Berkley County WV, and her children let her 3 dogs out. One came home by himself. My sister tried to do all the "right things" including contacting local shelters about her missing dogs. Six months later, she was at a picnic in Steven City, VA when someone showed up at the picnic, apologizing for being late, they had adopted a dog in Leesburg, VA... guess whose dog it was! What are the chances? Somehow the dog ended up in the Loudoun County dog shelter, and after several weeks was given to a rescue organization who held frequent adoption events in Leesburg. The chances of this happening are so astronomical I can't even fathom how it came together. Sadly, the third dog was never returned. The lesson here are that dogs can travel far and live on their own for a very long time - check with shelters even beyond the county where the dog is lost, and also with the rescue organizations (frequently).

** When I was young, I had a dog that was "in love" with a neighbors dog when we lived in Oakton. We moved to the Aldie area and my dog went back to his "girlfriend's" house many times - every time he could break away. It's a long journey, the first time it took him 2 weeks, but after awhile he got the route down pat and he could make it there in a couple days.

** When I was a teen, my dog got loose in Fauquier County (near Warrenton). He returned to our home in Aldie on his own within 2 weeks.

** About 8 years ago, my cat (who we were trying to "make" an indoor cat and who was destined to be an indoor/outdoor cat) ran out our door and my husband chased him trying to get him back. The cat was scared and ran and ran. Eventually he wanted to come home, but had gotten lost running away. He was found (thanks to our posters in the neighborhood) by a neighbor 2 streets over at a house that looked a lot like ours and which was also at the end of a culdesac.

Pets are our best friends. Here in Loudoun we love our pets. If you have a lost pet, please always post it on our facebook page - with nearly 4K residents online there, we can help you get the word out quickly to a wide audience. www.Facebook.com/LeesburgVa We've been instrumental in reuniting several owners and their pets, and anytime there is a need, we want to be part of the solution.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Yes, ladies (and guys), Cinderella will be back in Leesburg at the National Conference Center in Leesburg in November, and she wants you to come to her tea party! Tickets are now on sale, and at the moment are still at last year's price, so hurry because a price increase is expected.

We're also looking for sponsors and volunteers. If you've been before I know you'll understand there is a full six months worth of activities that take place before we can pull off such an event. If you're interested, please contact Ann Kerr at 540.338.9040 or Andrcominv@aol.com.

To learn more about last year's event, visit http://www.cinderellatea.com/ ~ you can not purchase tickets this year from that site yet. It has not been updated for the 2011 event.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

I am often asked about what our local seasonal cycles are for real estate, so I thought I'd pass along this chart (thanks MRIS) for real estate sales volume in Loudoun County since 2006. Despite fluxuations due to weather, tax programs, loan programs, interest rates and many other things, this chart shows a definitive cycle for our area. Lowest sales have been occurring in January and February and the highest number of sales usually in June of every year.

Keep in mind, this chart represents closed sales. Most residential contracts are 30-60 days in contract (of course, with short sales that is longer, but I am speaking "generally" here).

Is your home listed yet? If you're thinking of selling this year, you may want to get a jump on things. Buyers are out in force now, and are looking. Many people won't put their homes on the market until June (they'll wait until school is out, etc), so often the early bird does get the worm.

Congress is looking at many potential revisions to the tax code, including limiting the tax deductions for mortgage interest. This change could truly have a negative impact on our local & national real estate market. We need to let Congress know we want the mortgage interest deduction to be left alone! Click the link, follow the prompts.

OK, I will admit that I am stealing the "game" from Zillow.com, but I liked it. Every Tuesday I will post pictures of 2 or more homes and ask for your favorite. I might shake it up a bit just for variety, but in this case, I have posted 2 pictures of Single Family Homes, both in Loudoun County, both currently for sale, and both priced the same. So, which do you like?

Well... actually, if you own a home in Leesburg or Loudoun and you'd like to sell, please call me so we can talk! I'd love to help you sell it. But, today, I am actually in search of something in particular.... and I am hoping to find it in the neighborhoods listed above.

The good news, if you're planning to sell this year, is the market is looking good. Buyers are out in force.

Another resource you might enjoy is http://www.salesinmyneighborhood.info/ - there you can order an automated Market Snapshot showing the homes near you that have recently sold and are listed for sale.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

A celestial treat! People around the world are talking about it... our moon. Tonight, it is about 17,000 miles closer than usual, appearing 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than most nights. Scientists have dispelled myths that this "super moon" will wreak havoc or cause natural disasters..... I guess we'll know for sure by morning.

Good Night Leesburg. Good Night Loudoun. Good Night Virginia. Good Night USA. Good Night Moon.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

This and every Thursday is $3 Thursday at Tally Ho where you can watch first run movies for only $3 per person.

Since today is the 3rd Thursday of the month it's also "Girls Night Out" in downtown Leesburg.... so come on it and pick up a program at any one of the local businesses who will be open late night and offering all kinds of specials.

But, if you're looking for something "different", you're in luck, we have a long list of great events that come but once a year....here are just a few....

You can't think St. Patrick's Day in Leesburg without automatically thinking about Spanky's Shenanigans on Market Street, where they invite you to "get your shamrocks off" there and to endulge in green eggs and beer, along with a full Irish menu, live music and free beads all day long. What more could you possibly want?

Other best bets for St. Pats? If you like the green beer scene, and don't want to miss a minute of March Madness, here are you best bets: Bunkers Sports Cafe, & Sals NY Pizza, both on Market Street in Leesburg and Nicks Corner Grill in Brambleton (Ashburn).

In Reston, just over the line into Fairfax County, Clyde's is hosting "The Running of the Leprechauns" beginning at 3pm, followed by Irish fun for all.... face painters, balloon twisters, a moonbounce, Irish music, dance and food.

If that's not your style, maybe Grandale Farm has what you're looking for... you'll find no Green Beer there. They'll be celebrating St. Patricks Day with dinner specials, deals on good Irish Brews and "The Way Changers".

The annual St. Patricks Day Party at the Carver Senior Center is pleased to be bringing in The Polka Dots who will perform a set of jaunty traditional tunes, and the Celtic School of Rythm will perform traditional Irish dance while partiers endulge in corned beef and cabbage.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

For a long while now, I have been managing and maintaining a facebook page for our community in Leesburg, Virginia (www.Facebook.com/LeesburgVA) and in less than a year with only organic growth, we have over 3700 fans. There we discuss community happenings, upcoming events, promote fundraisers, swap tips and all sorts of things.

The banter is quite engaging, but I have found many of the same questions get asked repeatedly, especially as we have new members, and then sometimes I can't put my hand on the information that other "fans" contributed... it seems to get lost in the newsfeed stream on the 'wall'. So, I've come up with a solution! (I think)

We've launched a complimentary web site. It's under construction right now, with only the home page and the calendar page (which uses a Google calendar that is imbedded) are complete...but check it out! It's already becoming a popular resource for community members....and I hope you'll join the Facebook comunity, but if you're not a "facebooker" then perhaps you'll just enjoy our web site. Either way, it's at your disposal!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

New to Loudoun? Welcome! If you're looking for sports opportunities for your children, Loudoun has many and below is a fairly comprehensive list of leagues and sports opps all around Loudoun!

High School aged children should check with their schools to see what team opportunities exist at the school. The list below includes opportunties for high school aged children and many opportunities for younger children. Most activities have a minimum age of 4-6.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Keller Williams Realty office in Leesburg, VA does an annual coat drive, collecting gently used coats for those in need in Loudoun County. The coat drive starts during the holiday season, and this year's drive went through January 15th... ending just a few days ago.

I am so thrilled to annouce what a great success it was! The coat drive resulted in 312 coats, 17 scarves, 12 gloves, 22 ball caps, 5 pairs of boots, and 12 winter caps delivered to Loudoun County needy families.

Our agents and their friends and families contributed, as did community members who simply heard about the drive through word of mouth or internet sources like the Leesburg Va Facebook Fan Page. It was a great community effort, and was coordinated by Angela Gammon, who runs a property management business from the Keller Williams Realty Leesburg office. Many thanks to everyone for their generosity!

Monday, January 17, 2011

In honor of MLK day today, I am choosing to tell you a personal story, a very real, personal story. If you grew up in a different environment, forgive the naivety from which this post comes. You see, I never witnessed much that I recognized as discrimination, but then again, our area was not very diverse... I mostly knew, went to school with and socialized with white people. And even when I did recognize a racist attitude, it was words, but not harmful actions or discriminatory practices like preventing employment or housing opportunities, and I thought that was the worst the world offered.

I was so oblivious. And then one day my eyes were forced open.

About 20 years ago, I had a boyfriend of Cuban descent, a first generation American. He was white, rather light skinned, and spoke English so fluently he was forgetting Spanish (his first language). He was a college graduate, a software engineer for Cable and Wireless, loved playing raquetball and was an all 'round good guy. Who would discriminate against him?

One night I got a call from him. He was crying. He never cried.

That night, he'd been playing basketball with some guys from work at the Hyatt by Fair Oaks. When he pulled out of the parking lot, he went the wrong way and had to make a U turn. Immediately he was pulled over... he thought perhaps there was a "No U Turn" sign that he'd missed.

He got out his license and had it ready for the officer as he approached. The cop took a look at his license and immediately read my boyfriends name (a very Hispanic name) with a very negative tone to his voice, and then followed with "Are you a Spic? Are you from Mexico?" Poor Armando didn't even know what do to, he stuttered a little and said "No, I was born in Florida."

"Well, you're all the same to me," said the cop as he opened the door of Armando's truck and told him to get out. Armando complied. He was searched and hand cuffed. While on his knees with his hands cuffed behind him, the cop kicked him in the back, pushing him onto the gravel, cutting up Armando's face, and bruising his back. The cops (there were more than one) searched and impounded his truck, all the while making hurtful comments to him about him being of Spanish descent.

He never got a ticket or summons that night, and was not taken into custody. He was never told why his truck was being impounded. He was uncuffed and left on the side of the road, without his truck, his jacket, wallet or even his ID~they were all still in the truck. He was calling me from the hotel because he didn't know what else to do.

The next morning I took him to get his truck. The paperwork said the vehicle was towed because it had been abandoned and reported as such by the police.

Then I insisted that we go to the police station to file a complaint. There was no record of the stop the night before. We spoke (coincidentally) to an officer who was also Hispanic. He told us he'd experienced and witnessed such treatment and wasn't surprised, but urged us not to file a report. We were told that the "offending officer" was nearing retirement, had always been "a biggot" and nothing had ever been done about the prior reports, since superiors always brushed everything under the rug. We were also warned of potential repercussions if we did proceed with the complaint. Armando refused to proceed. I was so very angry, but they wouldn't let me file a complaint since I didn't witness anything. It was a terrible, horrible incident and very eye opening for me.

I tell this story for the benefit of those of you, who like I was then, are naive. I know you're still out there. I know where you're coming from.... but open your eyes.

Ever since that day, I see the world differently. I rather liked having the rose colored glasses on, but we can't change the world for the better if we don't see what's wrong with it.

A little more than 40 years after Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, in many ways, we are living the dream that so many of us have adopted. My children DO "sit down at the table of brotherhood" in friendship and love, with persons that have skin as many colors as the rainbow and they judge people "not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character".

But we still have a way to go. In my dream, my children will actively work toward ridding the world of prejudicial attitudes and always have the character to stand up for what they know is right. I don't want them to let other people be mistreated because of the color of their skin, where they were born, or the name on their driver's license. I hope you'll share in my dream. Teach your children to recognize wrong, and work to make it right.

As Dr. King said "Hate will not drive out hate. Only love can do that. Darkness will not drive out darkness. Only light can do that." Let our children be the light.

You may also purchase cookies to be donated or contribute to the troop's GIFT OF CARING
- our troop will be sending the donated cookies to soliders in Afghanistan/Iraq (if possible). Alternatively, the cookies will be donated to our local food bank - Interfaith Relief. Please specify if you'd like to donate to one of these causes.